THERE was Friday Night Fever at Manchester's Palace Hotel as the Bee Gees returned to home turf to collect the latest honour in their glittering music career.
Celebrating 50 years in showbiz, brothers Robin and Barry Gibb were joined by a host of family and 600 friends who packed in to see them receive The Variety Club's highest honour, the Silver Heart, for their outstanding contribution to music and charity work.
Brother Maurice, who died suddenly in 2003, was represented at the awards by his wife Yvonne and son Adam in what was an emotional night for the Gibbs - back in the city where they spent much of their childhood.
It was as kids living on Keppel Road in Chorlton they first began to sing together and perform in local movie theatres.
Robin, 59, said: "It was in Manchester when we started our career really. It really was here where our interest in music first began, simple as that.
"So to be honoured here for doing something we love is a great thing."
A host of music and showbiz stars headed to the do to pay their tribute to the band, whose hits include Night Fever, How Deep Is Your Love and Tragedy.
Boyzone star Ronan Keating got huge cheers as he sang his solo hit Words penned by the Bee Gees.
Entertainer
Soap Star Superstar Richard Fleeshman performed his favourite Bee Gees song Massachusetts and entertainer Joe Longthorne also performed to the delight of the crowds.
Music impresario Sir Tim Rice, DJ Mike Read, and music expert Paul Gamberchini were among those paying tribute.
Mike said: "They are absolutely terrific songwriters and have always been influential, even though people don't often give them the credit they deserve."
It was something of a family reunion for the band, with a host of their cousins who still live in Manchester at the bash.
They included Hazel Gibb-Shacklock and her family who all live in Stretford.
She said: "When we were growing up nobody really believed that our cousins were the Bee Gees. Even now some people don't believe me!"
Robin and Barry's mum Barbara, 88, was causing almost as much a stir as her sons.
Barbara, born and raised in Worsley, said: "People from all over the world have come here and they all want to come and chat. I know how it must feel for celebrities now."
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"A host of music and showbiz stars headed to the do to pay their tribute to the band, whose hits include Night Fever, How Deep Is Your Love and Tragedy."
Is that as far back as the MEN goes? Before they reinvented themselves as a falsetto group in the late 70's, they6 had a string of hits in the late 60's including "First of May", "Spicks and Specks", "To Love Somebody", etc. They didn't start in the 70's.
Good on you lads ! As a fellow-Mancunian I am proud of your Chorlton roots. You have been a credit to the music business.
I think both of their parents and two of their siblings were born in Manchester, but the 3 Bee Gees brothers themselves were born in the Isle of Man? I think their father had got a job in an Isle of Man hotel at the time - and that's why some of them were born over there, before they all came back to Manchester. Not too sure though.
Think about the musical line.
If you went from Burnage (home of Oasis) drove down Wilbraham Road (Keppel Lane off there, Bee Gees home) and carried straight on you would go past the house where Morrisey was raised. It is a musical ley line.
Went to the trubute last night, to be honest, I'm not a massive fan but it was emotional and two excellent speeches from Sir Tim Rice and Paul Gambaccini, an awesome night in the end and the Bee Gees did a turn to!
There were a couple of youngsters, a girl of 15 and a young lad, they were awesome, certainly ones to watch for the future, can't remember their names though..........
And people rave about the merseysound? What about the manchestersound weve had and got loads of musical talent in manchester,We have more talent musically than most places in the world,And just look at how big the people are,the bee gees, Oasis,Morrisey. These are global stars.Weve always set trends in music as well as all other things like science,technology.
And I understand that the brothers still live in Manchester.
;-)
andy, just like the Beatles eh scouseboy?
Liverpool cannot be mentioned without the Beatles. Local news is obsessed about the, Liverpool council is too.
The Beatles moved away from Liverpool 44 years ago as soon as they had some bread to do so. Apart from Ken Dodd they all left but are also ranting on about Liverpool. 'Our Cilla', Tarby, Lily Savage etc. All 'I am a cheeky scouser this and that' but left as soon as they could.
I hear that Barry Ginn owns the house on Keppel Road and whilst I am sure that he spends most of his time in Miami at least he still knows his roots. Same with Liam Gallagher who was in Dukes 92 a couples of months back, I saw Johnny Marr in Atlas, and Ross Braun having a bite to eat in Evuna.
Happy Mondays, 10cc, Inspiral Carpets, Doves, Simply Red, The Fall, The Smiths, The Buzzcocks..... Sorry, my fingers are getting tired.
LAP IT UP SCOUSELAND!
Whoops..... Stone Roses. Sorry.
Great song writers and exceptional performers,,,they have written many songs that other superstar singers have had success with,& they never seemed to let stardom go to their heads.
They had some bad times that they had to go through as well as the good times,thanks & maybe they have a couple of songs left for the future.
How many Manchester bands made it in America though?
How many Manchester bands won Grammies?
How many Manchester bands were "commercially" successful in the UK, Europe & worldwide?
Apart from the Bee Gees here, hardly any is the sad answer!!
Bands from London, Liverpool, Sheffield & Birmingham always sold more records - especially in America. And it's London & the South that has "always" (& consistently to this day) produced the most successful bands in this country! They just don't feel the need to "gob off" about it, unlike insecure professional northerners! (Cool that, eh Mr Terry Christian?)
plus James, Charlatans, Ting Tings and Mick Jagger's dad was born and raised in Greenfield, near Oldham. Oh Take That and Concrete Penguin.
Zimmerman.......As a country we have always set the trend just think about the great, great groups this country has produced think of the songs and the song writers this country has born. We always lead from the front and everyone follows the trend this country sets. I for one am proud of our musical heritage.
Three of the best known Manchester bands of the 60's not mentioned were 'The Hollies', 'Herman's Hermits' and 'Freddy and the Dreamers'.
all the best lads, chorlton has changed a bit1
The Bee Gees music is in my soul. I have been to two of their concerts in New Jersey, and I walked away with their songs in my head for days after. Robin was always my favourite, but they are all special. I did meet Maurice when he was married to Lulu:) So something wonderful came out of Manchester back then..and their music will live forever.
The Bee Gees were a great pop group. I always felt they should have lamped Clive Anderson in that interview, they deserve a smidgeon of respect at least.
Good on the Variety Club honouring the Bee Gees for their phenomenal gigantic contribution over 40plus years to the pop industry,they are a credit to Manchester and Britain.
Barry, Robin and the late Maurice will go down in history as one of the most successful music acts of all time, who doesn't know a Bee Gees song around the world, and its not just their own work, their work as writers and producers with Streisand,Diana Ross and Dionne Warwick producing classic albums underwrites their legendary status.
Being a fan since the sixties I was very sad when Maurice passed away, but I look forward to still hearing more from Barry and Robin.
I feel that sometimes these days we see certain honours and awards splashed around to people who have not always done a lot to be given one but in this case the Variety Club are spot on !
The three lads lived in the Isle of Man before Manchester. I used to meet them on the IOM ferry from Liverpool every summer the day after the school holidays started,after they moved to Manchester.They were going to the IOM on holiday but we were all travelling alone at ages ranging between 6 and 14.Times have changed,eh?
Last night, I wore my sisters thong (six sizes too small), borrowed my dad's grey suit, nicked my brothers medallion and went to the local and sang Bee Gee classics all night long. I was released this morning from Gray Mere Lane nick and bound over to keep the peace, plus I'm barred from my local. Result!
I have had the pleasure of being in their company whilst in Miami and they are fantastic blokes and really quite down to earth. They follow City with a passion too so are all round good guys.
Left Manchester and then come back to say how much they love the place. The week before they said the same ting in their birth place...The Isle of Man.... Priceless.
Mark South Manchester where've you been since 1960? I'll give you a clue if you've been locked in a cupboard: Google "Manchester bands".